An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation. See also: → problem, → puzzle.

Etymology (EN): From L. aenigma “riddle,” from Gk. ainigma “a dark saying, riddle,” from ainissesthai “speak obscurely, speak in riddles,” from ainos “tale, story; saying, proverb;” of unknown origin.

Etymology (PE): Câceh, from Baluci (Zâhedân) câcâk “riddle, puzzle;” cf.
(Kermânšâhi) câvca “riddle, puzzle” (Fin-e Bandar-Abbâs) cencen “riddle;” maybe related to Choresmian c’tyk “riddle,” from Proto-Ir. *caš- “to teach, to show;” Av. *caš- “to teach, to show” (Cheung 2007).